| Davidsonville Historic State Park | |||||||
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 "Ghost structure" at the Davidsonville town site to illustrate a former structure | |||||||
 Interactive map of Davidsonville Historic State Park | |||||||
| Location | Pocahontas, Arkansas, United States | ||||||
| Coordinates | 36°09′30″N91°03′25″W / 36.15835°N 91.056892°W /36.15835; -91.056892[1] | ||||||
| Area | 163 acres (66 ha)[2] | ||||||
| Elevation | 226 ft (69 m) | ||||||
| Established | 1957[2] | ||||||
| Administered by | Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism | ||||||
| Website | Official website | ||||||
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Davidsonville Historic State Park (formerlyOld Davidsonville State Park) is a 163-acre (66 ha)Arkansas state park inRandolph County, Arkansas in the United States. Situated on a border betweenThe Ozarks and theArkansas Delta, the park preserves the remains of the abandoned frontier town of Davidsonville.[1] The town was one ofArkansas Territory's first settlements when founded in 1815, serving as an important river port town on theBlack River. The former townsite was made into a state park in 1957 and a monument was added to theNational Register of Historic Places in 1974.[2]
There is evidence that the site was occupied by French colonists prior to the 1803Louisiana Purchase. Archeologists have discovered evidence ofNative American use of the site as early as 4,000 BC. The 1822 courthouse was apparently built on top of anIndian mound which was built before 1,100 AD.
Davidsonville was founded in 1815 and rapidly became the most important town in northeast Arkansas Territory, but was abandoned by the 1830s. The community served as a river port town on the west bank of the Black River, near the confluence of theSpring River andEleven Point River with the Black River. The town was on important stop on theSouthwest Trail and featured several important frontier establishments. In 1817 the first post office of Arkansas Territory opened in the town, followed in 1820 by the firstUnited States General Land Office of the territory. In 1822, the first courthouse of Arkansas Territory was built in Davidsonville. The town became thecounty seat ofLawrence County, which at the time comprised roughly the northern third of Arkansas.
Shortly after the town's founding the Southwest Trail was rerouted onto higher ground, bypassing Davidsonville. New towns appeared along the trail's new route, diminishing Davidsonville's importance. In 1828 the land office was moved toBatesville, about 60 miles (97 km) southwest. In 1829 thecounty seat and courthouse began a series of moves to a number of other towns. Today there are very few remains above ground. The townsite, which had been a grid of streets with a central square where the courthouse stood, now looks like a grassy field with a few trees. Only upon closer inspection does one begin to see hints of the former town. The park's interpretive signs point out where certain buildings used to stand. There are two small cemeteries. By the time of Arkansas statehood in 1836, Davidsonville was essentially abandoned.
After the creation ofArkansas Post National Memorial in 1929, theArkansas State Legislature passed Act 418 on March 28, 1957, though funding to develop the area into a state park was not approved until 1979.[2] The park offers interpretive programs, camping, hiking, fishing, and canoeing. Park facilities were originally built on the old townsite. The site was listed on the U.S.National Register of Historic Places in 1974 as "Old Davidsonville State Historic Monument", also known as Lawrence-Davidsonville. During the 1980s the townsite was cleared in order to facilitate archeological studies. The park facilities are now located on nearby ridges. The first carefularcheological study was conducted in 1972, and several others followed.
Although one of Arkansas's historic state parks, there are opportunities for recreation at Davidsonville Historic State Park also. Fishing is available on the Black River, Eleven Point River, Spring River, and a small fishing pond within the park. An interpretive guide is available for tours of the original platted site year round.[3] Amenities include trails, picnic tables, a visitor center and 25 campsites.[1]
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